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Disability Solutions

Brussel Sprouts and Sleeping Giants

Disability in a Nutshell

	Do I know much about disability?
	What kinds of disabilities are there?
	What’s the correct terminology to use?
	When or how should I help someone with a disability?
	How accessible is society and education and the workplace really, for persons with Disabilities?
	What’s it got to do with me?

If you have answered "No" or "I don’t know" to any of the above questions , don’t worry, you are no different from the 85% of the population who are just as ignorant about the reality of Disability as you are.

So read on and find out why Disability is really like Brussels Sprouts and Sleeping giants.

Q. So what is a Disability, is it just guys in wheelchairs?

Definitely not, in fact people using wheelchairs form a relatively small proportion of PWD’s (People with Disabilities).

Q. So what exactly is a disability?

There are several definitions of Disability available. South Africa tends to use one that is very focused on employment, but this has little bearing on life in society as a whole. An example of a definition would be:

"Disability: A restriction or lack (resulting from an impairment) of ability to perform an activity in the manner considered normal for a human being.”

And an impairment is defined as:

"Impairment: A loss or abnormality of psychological, physiological or anatomical structure or function.”

“Anyone with a long term or reoccurring, physical or mental, impairment, that substantially limits their access into, or existence in society.”

Q . How does such a definition help us understand disability?

Definitions help to define the parameters of disability somewhat, however they tend to distract one to focus only on the actual disability or impairment, rather than the ability of a PWD to interact with or integrate into society.

“Whats actually doing the disabling around here anyway?

Barriers or Disabilities?”

Note: when one thinks about it for a while, one begins to realise that society often creates barriers which in turn cause unnecessary difficulties for PWDs.

One cannot easily remove Disabilities, however you can often remove barriers. Once barriers have been identified and removed, Disability can more easily access and participate in all aspects of society.

Q. What kinds of disabilities are there?

Disability is very broad with countless variations and conditions to take into account. It is unwise to label and try and determine what is and is not a disability, as disability can very often be a relative issue.

One can try to break down Disability into three principle groups.

Physical;

Mental (including Psychological) and;

Sensory.

Or put another way, visible and invisible Disabilities.

Q. What are physical Disabilities?.

Loss or damage to bones, nerves muscle etc. Often leading to difficulties with mobility or performing daily functions due to paralysis, atrophy, amputation, spasms etc.

Examples include: Spinal cord damage, arthritis, muscular dystrophy, post Polio, cerebral Palsy, etc.

Note: accessible environments allow persons with physical disabilities to more easily access and participate in all aspects of society, thus removing much of the disabling component of their condition.

Q. What about mental Disabilities?

There is much confusion between Mental Disabilities and Mental illness. Managed mental illnesses either by therapy or medication need not be disabling. However severe head trauma, depression, undiagnosed or unmanaged conditions like Bipolar or Schizophrenia, can certainly be disabling. Congenital conditions such as Downs Syndrome, Autism and Foetal Alcohol Syndrome are regarded as Intellectual disabilities.

Note: depression is on its way to being the worlds largest Disability. South Africa has the highest rate of Foetal Alcohol Syndrome in the world.

Q. What are Sensory Disabilities?

A. This would include all visual and hearing disabilities or both combined.

Deafness and hearing impairments range from profound deafness to hearing difficulties. Speech difficulties can accompany hearing loss, particularly profoundly Deaf.

Note: loss of hearing is one of the fastest growing disabilities in SA, due to very loud music, and industrial noise.

Sign language, lip reading, hearing aids, 'SMS'ing, emailing and good signage all support communication and greater interaction with those with hearing difficulties and society.

Note: not all people with hearing impairments use full sign Language.

Blindness or visual impairments. Less than 10% of the Blind or visually impaired are completely sightless, the majority have some or partial vision.

Braille, computer software and hardware, talking books etc, have reduced the barriers significantly in allowing visually impaired people to participate normally in society and the workplace in particular.

Note: 90% of the Blind/visually impaired do not use Braille.

Q. What about other invisible disabilities?

Epilepsy is one of the largest invisible disabilities. Although it can be well controlled through medication, people with epilepsy still need to be careful of certain stimuli, such as excessive computer use, strip lighting, flashing light, alcohol etc. Diabetes can also be controversial. If well managed it need not be disabling, however stress, poor diet, fatigue or more serious conditions can certainly lead to very serious problems such as amputation, blindness and worse.

Note: it is unwise to fixate on specific disabilities as their causes and definitions are often blurred. This kind of uninformed attention can often lead to stereotypic labeling, prejudice and discrimination.

Q. What’s the correct terminology to use?

Language is important, and terminology has changed significantly over the years as PWDs have begun to be recognised as citizens and normal people too. A great example is how the international sign language sign for Disability has changed from; a cutting motion across the palms (signifying “handicapped”. But is now a sweeping motion of the Right fingers across the left hands’ outstretched fingers, signifying 5 senses.

Do’s and don’ts

The most damaging word in disability terminology is "handicapped". If you think of technology that is or has been handicapped, you automatically know it is broken or damaged, or obsolete or dysfunctional. What do you think your brain is telling you when you use “Disabled” to describe people?

In South Africa, we tend to refer to PWDs is exactly that, People with Disabilities. However, many countries overseas refer to disabled people, signifying that the person is disabled by the environment. The person does not "own" the disability, rather society, an or the built environment disables that person.

There are many other politically correct terms to watch out for but a few real no-no’s would include: Cripple, Spastic, dumb, retarded, wheelchair-bound, etc.

Q. When and how should I help People with Disabilities?

A. There is a simple rule of thumb. Ask yourself, what would you expect right now, if you were in the PWD? Chances are you would want to be asked first, right? If you offer help and the answer is no, even if you are sure you know better, leave it at that. Don’t take offence if the reaction is sharp

Note: most PWD’s value their independence very highly as many have fought hard to gain it, don’t take that away too!

Note: it’s worth pointing out that less than 20% of Disability is congenital (born with), which means that over 80% happens to people later in life, usually between late teens and mid 30’s. So it can happen to you.

Useful tips:

Never just grab a wheelchair and push, unless you are asked.

Never grab a blind person, ask them if they would like to take your arm.

Don’t say to a blind person, when he asks you for directions: “Its over there!….” Whilst pointing...

Maintain eye contact when you speak to a person who is lip-reading, it helps when they are reading your lips .

Don’t be embarrassed when you use words like “walk with me”; when speaking to a person in a wheelchair or “look here” to a person with a sight impairment.

Remember that people with disabilities are just that; people. Treat them with the same respect as you would anyone else.

Q. what are the rights of PWD's, particularly in the job market and workplace?

South Africa has the only Constitution in the world that recognises the rights of PWD's. The Employment Equity Act, the “Equality Act” and Section S of the Building Regulations all endorse the rights of PWD's to live work and play in South Africa.

However the realities are rather more sobering.

	Disability numbers between 10-15% of any population in the world. Which means over 5 million people in SA.
	In SA over 95% of PWD's are unemployed.
	The majority of public and private buildings, facilities, schools, public transport are inaccessible.
	Over 60% of children with disabilities are unaccounted for by the Education department.
	Job opportunities are still very limited and stereotypic.

This is why we call Disability the Brussels Sprouts of Equity. It’s the stuff that you would rather not deal with, and if you can get away with it, you will leave it altogether!

But wait! There’s more!
Its not necessarily all bad news.
Disability is also a bit like a Sleeping Giant.
Untapped potential and huge capacity.
Overseas, PWD's constitute powerful minorities with enormous disposable income. In the USA, for example the Disability market is larger than the Afro-American, and Hispanic communities combined (Source Atlanta Paralympic Organisation). This in turn places them as increasingly valued consumers and earners.
This forces governments to step up accessibility into all walks of those societies. And that’s integration.

Q. What are the job opportunities available for PWD's?

There is still a strong tendency to stereotype and assume that PWD's can or can’t do certain jobs, because of their disabilities. The majority of PWD's employed in SA tend to be at lower levels, for instance, it is common to find blind or partially sighted people employed as switchboard operators, often for 10, 15 even 20 years..

Understanding of “reasonable accommodation” is crucial. This is where an employer is required to provide (within reason) that aid, or assistance that would allow the PWD to function normally. Such as software, that will allow a blind person to read and operate his PC at work, or an accessible workplace for persons with physical disabilities.

Reasonable accommodations have shown that PWD’s can perform and grow and lead others, like anyone else.

What is needed, though, is greater willingness and awareness on behalf of employers to be open to Disability empowerment.

Q. What more can Government do to help disability?

Government needs to show political will and to strongly and unambiguously support, police and implement the legislative mechanisms that exist to prevent discrimination and promote integration.

Q. What can Society do to help Disability?

Employment is not the whole story. Unless society becomes more aware and willing to accommodate disability particularly in terms of accessibility, increased employment is impossible.

Q. What can Disability do to help itself?

A. Disability also needs to grow up a bit. It has existed as a victim for ages. Disability needs to understand and assert their right to full citizenship, in terms of access to be educated in a school of their choice, be employed in a job that they are competent and able to do, and to be able to access any part of society they wish to, in order to enjoy life to the full.

In short stand up and be counted.

If you have any further queries on this article, or if there is anything you would like to add, then please contact Jeremy, on jgo@mweb.co.za

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Brussel Sprouts and Sleeping Giants

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